An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

Secondly, Suppose man could say, that, what he had were his own, that, his riches were his own, that, health and strength of body were his own, yet God may take them away, and do no wrong. It is so among men, Kings and States call out their Subjects to war, and in that war their wounds are multiplied without any cause given by them: They gave no occasion why they should be appointed to such hazards of life and limb, to such hardships of hunger and cold; yet there is no injustice in this. When God casts man into trouble, he calls him out to his service, he hath a war, some noble enterprise and design to send him upon. To ⟨p. 283⟩you it is given to suffer for his sake (saith the Apostle, Phil. 1.29.) he puts it among the special privileges, which some Saints are graced with, not only above the world, but above many of the Saints, To whom it is given (and that's a royal gift) only to believe. Now, if in prosecuting this suffering task, whether for Christ, or from Christ, a believer lays out his estate, credit, liberty, or life, he is so far from being wronged, that he is honoured. Thousands are slain in public employments, who have given no cause to be so slain. If according to the line of men, this be no injustice, much less is it injustice in God, who is without line, himself being the only line and rule to himself, and to all besides himself.

Secondly, Suppose man could say, that, what he had were his own, that, his riches were his own, that, health and strength of body were his own, yet God may take them away, and doe no wrong. It is so among men, Kings and States call out their Subjects to warre, and in that warre their wounds are multiplied without any cause given by them: They gave no occasion vvhy they should be appointed to such hazards of life and limb, to such hardships of hunger and cold; yet there is no injustice in this. When God casts man into trouble, he cals him out to his service, he hath a vvarre, some noble enterprize and design to send him upon. To ⟨p. 283⟩you it is given to suffer for his sake (saith the Apostle, Phil. 1.29.) he puts it among the speciall priviledges, vvhich some Saints are graced vvith, not only above the vvorld, but above many of the Saints, To whom it is given (and that's a royall gift) only to believe. Now, if in prosecuting this suffering task, whether for Christ, or from Christ, a believer laies out his estate, credit, liberty, or life, he is so farre from being wronged, that he is honoured. Thousands are slain in publike imploiments, who have given no cause to be so slain. If according to the line of men, this be no injustice, much lesse is it injustice in God, who is without line, himself being the only line and rule to himself, and to all besides himself.